[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 199 (Monday, October 15, 2018)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 52113-52114]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22558]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 83 , No. 199 / Monday, October 15, 2018 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 52113]]


                Proclamation 9804 of October 10, 2018

                
General Pulaski Memorial Day, 2018

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Today, we pay tribute to the Polish immigrant and 
                renowned military commander, General Casimir Pulaski, 
                who gave his life for the cause of freedom during the 
                American Revolutionary War. In the Continental Army, 
                General Pulaski volunteered to serve alongside our 
                Nation's forefathers in their cause for independence. 
                His expertise on the battlefield, tactical insights, 
                and creation of a highly effective corps of mounted 
                infantry earned him the title of ``Father of the 
                American Cavalry.'' On General Pulaski Memorial Day, we 
                commemorate his legacy and draw inspiration from his 
                stalwart commitment to liberty, the rule of law, and 
                the sovereignty of the people.

                As a younger man, Count Casimir Pulaski developed a 
                reputation for tremendous bravery while fighting with 
                his father to free his native Poland from Russian 
                control. When Russia nevertheless prevailed, Pulaski 
                faced exile and crossed Europe into France. There, in a 
                fortuitous turn of events for America, Pulaski crossed 
                paths with Benjamin Franklin, who urged him to join the 
                cause of American independence. Rising rapidly through 
                the ranks of the Continental Army to the position of 
                Brigadier General, Pulaski demonstrated uncommon and 
                contagious courage on the battlefield, saving the life 
                of General George Washington at the Battle of 
                Brandywine and transforming a cavalry legion of 
                Americans, Germans, Frenchman, Irishmen, and Poles into 
                a lethal fighting force.

                On October 9, 1779, General Pulaski was severely 
                wounded during the Battle of Savannah. Two days later, 
                he died. In his memory, General Washington wrote that 
                ``[t]he Count's valor and active zeal on all occasions 
                have done him great honor.'' Although General Pulaski 
                did not live to see the Star-Spangled Banner fly 
                victoriously over the field at Yorktown, his legacy of 
                heroism and sacrifice is etched into our history, 
                alongside that of heroes like Marquis de Lafayette and 
                Bernardo de G[aacute]lvez, and has inspired Americans 
                for generations. By giving his last full measure of 
                devotion for our freedom and independence, General 
                Pulaski embodied the special bond that the American and 
                Polish people cherish to this day. Indeed, more than 
                two centuries after the General's heroic death, and 100 
                years since Poland gained its own independence, the 
                United States of America and Poland continue to share a 
                kindred devotion to the cause of freedom and to 
                strengthening the bilateral relationship between our 
                two countries.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim October 11, 2018, as 
                General Pulaski Memorial Day. I encourage all Americans 
                to commemorate on this occasion those who have 
                contributed to the furthering of our Nation.

[[Page 52114]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand eighteen, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                third.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2018-22558
Filed 10-12-18; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F9-P